ASTM F1686-97
(Guide)Standard Guide for Surveys to Document and Assess Oiling Conditions on Shorelines
Standard Guide for Surveys to Document and Assess Oiling Conditions on Shorelines
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers field procedures by which data may be collected in a systematic manner to document and assess the oiling conditions on shorelines.
1.2 This guide does not address the terminology that is used to define and describe shoreline oiling conditions, the ecological character of oiled shorelines, or the cultural or other resources that may be present.
1.3 The guide is applicable to marine coasts (including estuaries) and may also be used in freshwater environments (rivers and lakes).
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
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Designation: F 1686 – 97
Standard Guide for
Surveys to Document and Assess Oiling Conditions on
Shorelines
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1686; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.3 The aerial reconnaissance survey provides a perspective
on the overall extent and general nature of the shoreline oiling
1.1 This guide covers field procedures by which data may
conditions. This information is used in conjunction with
be collected in a systematic manner to document and assess the
environmental, resource, and cultural sensitivity data to evalu-
oiling conditions on shorelines.
ate which areas require a response and the priorities of the
1.2 This guide does not address the terminology that is used
response operations.
to define and describe shoreline oiling conditions, the ecologi-
3.4 The aerial videotape survey(s) provide systematic audio
cal character of oiled shorelines, or the cultural or other
and video documentation of the extent and type of shoreline
resources that may be present.
oiling conditions, physical shoreline character, and potential
1.3 The guide is applicable to marine coasts (including
access restrictions (2).
estuaries) and may also be used in freshwater environments
3.5 The ground assessment survey(s) provide the necessary
(rivers and lakes).
information and data to develop appropriate shoreline response
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
recommendations. A field team(s) collects detailed information
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
on shoreline oil conditions, the physical and ecological char-
only.
acter of oiled shorelines, and resources or cultural features that
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
may affect or be affected by the timing or implementation of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
response activities (2).
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.6 In order to ensure data consistency it is important to use
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
standardized terminology and definitions in describing oiling
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
conditions, as provided in Guide F 1687.
2. Referenced Documents
4. General Considerations
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.1 The specific survey procedures and the magnitude of the
F 1687 Guide for Terminology and Indices for Describing
data sets collected will vary with the scale of the spill (the
the Oiling Conditions of Shorelines
length and distribution of oiled shoreline and quantity of oil),
F 1779 Practice for Reporting Visual Observations of Oil on
the nature or complexity of the shoreline, and the needs of the
Water
response organization (3).
3. Significance and Use
4.2 Following a spill in which only a few kilometers of
coast have been oiled, one ground survey team may be able to
3.1 Systematic surveys provide data on shoreline conditions
accomplish all of the goals in an appropriate time frame.
from which informed planning and operational decisions may
4.3 As the scale of the affected area increases, it may be
be developed with respect to shoreline cleanup.
necessary to conduct an aerial videotape survey that is fol-
3.2 Surveys may include one or more of three components,
lowed by a ground assessment using one or more teams.
listed below. The scale of the affected area and the availability
4.4 Following spills that affect long sections of coast (for
of pre-spill information will influence the selection of survey
example, more than 100 km), the sequence of an initial aerial
components and the level of detail (1).
reconnaissance, an aerial videotape survey and ground assess-
ment surveys may be necessary to satisfy planning and
operational requirements in a timely manner (2).
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-20 on Hazardous
Substances and Oil Spill Responseand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 4.5 Each of the three stages requires a separate survey
F20.17on Shoreline Countermasters.
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 1997. Published April 1997. Originally
published as F 1686 – 96. Last previous edition F 1686 – 96.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.04. Owens, E. H., and Sergy, G. A., Field Guide to the Documentation and
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of Description of Oiled Shorelines, ISBN 0-662-22048-X, Environment Canada,
this standard. Edmonton, Alta., 1994.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
F 1686
design, the assignment of duties to personnel, logistics plan- other sources or where the affected coastline is short enough in
ning, and the establishment of survey and documentation length that an aerial videotape survey can be completed during
procedures. one low-tide cycle.
4.6 All surveys are conducted during the lowest one-quarter
7. Aerial Videotape and Mapping Survey(s)
to one-third of the tidal cycle to ensure maximum (viewing)
exposure of the intertidal zone (1). 7.1 The aerial videotape recording and mapping survey(s)
are conducted on coasts where there is known or expected
5. Segmentation
oiling. The survey is used to provide detailed and systematic
5.1 The coast is divided into working units called segments, documentation on the extent and type of shoreline oiling and
within which the shoreline character is relatively homogeneous other shoreline conditions (2).
in terms of physical features and sediment type. 7.2 Small high-wing or rotary-wing aircraft fly the coast at
5.2 Each segment is assigned a unique location identifier very slow speeds at altitudes in the range of 25 to 75 m.
(for example, an alpha-numeric code). 7.3 The primary survey team consists of an oil observer and
5.3 Segment boundaries can be either prominent geological a navigator. The navigator records and maps relevant flight
features (headlands, streams, etc.), changes in shore/substrate information. The oil observer operates the video camera and
types, or, more importantly, alongshore changes in oil condi- provides a continuous audio commentary, for which the color
tions. video image provides a visual image frame of reference. In
5.4 Segment lengths are short enough to obtain adequate some cases a video technician may be desirable for the
resolution and detail on the distribution of the oil for planning operation and quality control of the audio and video record-
and operational decisions. Most segments of oiled shorelines ings.
would be in the range of 0.2 to 2.0 km. 7.4 The oil observer/videographer is an oil-spill specialist,
5.5 If segments already exist as part of a pre-spill planning who can identify the shoreline substrate and form and distin-
exercise or sensitivity mapping database, segment boundaries guish between natural shoreline materials and stranded oil.
may need to be adapted, segments subdivided, or the segment Duties of the oil observer are as follows:
codes revised, or some combination thereof, to reflect the 7.4.1 To identify or create segment boundaries and describe
oiling conditions created by a spill. their location on one of the audio channels. These are also
recorded on a set of flight-line maps or charts by the navigator.
6. Aerial Reconnaissance Survey(s)
7.4.2 To videotape the shore zone through an open door or
6.1 An initial aerial survey(s) is conducted along coastlines window continuously, with the camera angled down (30 to 45°)
within the spill path. The objective is to determine which
and slightly ahead of the aircraft (15 to 30°) so that the area
shorelines have been oiled, in order to provide an overall being described comes into focus and the foreground during
perspective and scale with which to plan for a more systematic
the commentary. Video resolution is best when the sun is
documentation or assessment survey.
behind the aircraft.
6.2 This survey can be augmented with information from a
7.4.3 To provide a continuous descriptive commentary on
high-altitude surveillance and tracking program. In some cases
the shoreline oiling conditions, including the (1) length and
this survey can be combined with other aerial reconnaissance
width of the oiled areas and the oil distribution (percent surface
activities being conducted to locate and visually observe oil on
oil cover), (2) physical shore-zone character, and (3) other
water (Practice F 1779) (2).
pertinent features such as access locations or constraints (4).
6.3 Fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft fly the coast at
7.5 Video recording equipment requires either a camera/
slow-speed flight at altitudes in the range of 75 to 150 m.
recorder/color monitor system or a camrecorder system. Both
Helicopters are preferred over fixed-wing aircraft, as they
must have on-screen date/time, audio recording, and lowlight
permit landings to confirm observations made from the air.
recording capabilities. Other requirements include an indepen-
Among fixed-wing aircraft, those with the wing mounted
dent, stabilized power supply or converter and a voice
...
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